Canada, Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands are the only nations that currently recognize full same-sex marriages [JURIST news archive]. The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) [official website] announced dismay at the cabinet's approval of the bill, which would make South Africa the first African country to endorse same-sex partnerships, and has called for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. Reuters has more. The Advocate has additional coverage.

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